WhatsApp-Based Focus Groups Among Mexican-Origin Women in Zika Risk Area: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Data Quality.
Mexican-origin Latinas
WhatsApp
Zika
focus groups
mHealth
mobile phone
smartphones
social media
synchronous text-based focus groups
Journal
JMIR formative research
ISSN: 2561-326X
Titre abrégé: JMIR Form Res
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 101726394
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
28 Oct 2021
28 Oct 2021
Historique:
received:
16
06
2020
accepted:
31
05
2021
revised:
23
11
2020
entrez:
28
10
2021
pubmed:
29
10
2021
medline:
29
10
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Despite unprecedented advances in worldwide access to the internet via smartphones, barriers to engaging hard-to-reach populations remain in many methods of health research. A potential avenue for conducting qualitative research is via participatory web-based media, including the free, popular social platform WhatsApp. However, despite the clear advantages of engaging with participants over a well-established web-based platform, logistical challenges remain. This study aims to report evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of WhatsApp as a method to conduct focus groups. A pilot focus group was conducted with Spanish-speaking women near the US-Mexico border. The content focus was knowledge and perceived risks for exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy. Evidence was obtained regarding WhatsApp as a low-cost, logistically feasible methodology that resulted in rich qualitative data from a population that is often reticent to engage in traditional research. A total of 5 participants participated in a focus group, of whom all 5 consistently contributed to the focus group chat in WhatsApp, which was conducted over 3 consecutive days. The findings are noteworthy at a time when face-to-face focus groups, the gold standard, are risky or precluded by safe COVID-19 guidelines. Other implications include more applications and evaluations of WhatsApp for delivering one-on-one or group health education interventions on sensitive topics. This paper outlines the key steps and considerations for the replication or adaptation of methods.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Despite unprecedented advances in worldwide access to the internet via smartphones, barriers to engaging hard-to-reach populations remain in many methods of health research. A potential avenue for conducting qualitative research is via participatory web-based media, including the free, popular social platform WhatsApp. However, despite the clear advantages of engaging with participants over a well-established web-based platform, logistical challenges remain.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to report evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of WhatsApp as a method to conduct focus groups.
METHODS
METHODS
A pilot focus group was conducted with Spanish-speaking women near the US-Mexico border. The content focus was knowledge and perceived risks for exposure to the Zika virus during pregnancy.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Evidence was obtained regarding WhatsApp as a low-cost, logistically feasible methodology that resulted in rich qualitative data from a population that is often reticent to engage in traditional research. A total of 5 participants participated in a focus group, of whom all 5 consistently contributed to the focus group chat in WhatsApp, which was conducted over 3 consecutive days.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The findings are noteworthy at a time when face-to-face focus groups, the gold standard, are risky or precluded by safe COVID-19 guidelines. Other implications include more applications and evaluations of WhatsApp for delivering one-on-one or group health education interventions on sensitive topics. This paper outlines the key steps and considerations for the replication or adaptation of methods.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34709185
pii: v5i10e20970
doi: 10.2196/20970
pmc: PMC8587330
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e20970Informations de copyright
©Elizabeth Anderson, Mary Koss, Ana Lucía Castro Luque, David Garcia, Elise Lopez, Kacey Ernst. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 28.10.2021.
Références
BMC Health Serv Res. 2019 Feb 1;19(1):86
pubmed: 30709376
BMC Med Res Methodol. 2009 Mar 03;9:15
pubmed: 19257883
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2002 Nov-Dec;13(6):46-56
pubmed: 12469543
BMJ. 2018 Dec 7;363:k4590
pubmed: 30530659
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2011 Jun;43(2):78-87
pubmed: 21651706
J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 Feb;70(2):225-230
pubmed: 32063611
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2012 Jun;31(4):566-72
pubmed: 22168668
J Postgrad Med. 2018 Oct-Dec;64(4):212-219
pubmed: 29943738
JMIR Ment Health. 2019 Oct 4;6(10):e14191
pubmed: 31588913
Qual Health Res. 2007 Apr;17(4):539-47
pubmed: 17416707
Ann Fam Med. 2005 Sep-Oct;3(5):470-1
pubmed: 16189068
Am J Infect Control. 2018 Jul;46(7):850
pubmed: 29661633
J Biomed Inform. 2009 Apr;42(2):377-81
pubmed: 18929686
Clin Kidney J. 2019 Apr 30;13(1):8-13
pubmed: 32082548
Contemp Nurse. 2018 Feb;54(1):26-34
pubmed: 28975852
BMC Res Notes. 2015 Aug 04;8:331
pubmed: 26238512
Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2016 Apr;36(4):63-75
pubmed: 27077792
J Med Internet Res. 2015 Oct 22;17(10):e238
pubmed: 26494159
Stud Health Technol Inform. 2016;231:82-90
pubmed: 27782019
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2010 Oct;64(10):885-9
pubmed: 19767322
PLoS One. 2015 Jun 10;10(6):e0128337
pubmed: 26060991